Spool for fishing line

ABSTRACT

A spool for fishing line comprises: a short-cylinder core portion; and a pair of flange portions provided at opposite end portions of the core portion, and the core portion and the flange portions are made of paper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a spool around which fishing line is wound.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Conventionally, fishing line is cut into pieces of a predetermined length (for example, approximately 150 m) for sale. The fishing line is wound around the spool for the sake of convenience of storage. After the fishing line is spent, the spool is left as garbage. In general, the spool is made of synthetic resin such as plastic. A user is prohibited from abandoning the disused spool as garbage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a spool for fishing line that solves the garbage problem.

[0006] Plastic or the like is used as a material of the spool to obtain strength. Commercially available fishing line, i.e., a commercial product, is created by winding a predetermined length of fishing line around the spool. When the fishing line is wound around the spool, constant tension is applied on the fishing line. Therefore, the spool requires strength (rigidity).

[0007] By the way, the inventor of the present invention conceived a device capable of winding the fishing line around the spool with extremely small tension. With this device, the spool does not require strength which has been conventionally demanded. This makes it possible that the spool is made of materials other than synthetic resin, which solves the garbage problem.

[0008] To solve the above problem, there is provided a spool for fishing line comprising: a short-cylinder shaped core portion; and a pair of flange portions provided at opposite end portions of the core portion, wherein the core portion and the flange portions are made of paper.

[0009] With such a structure, the fishing line is continuously wound around the core portion. Since the flange portions are provided, the wound fishing line is prevented from coming loose. In addition, since the core portion and the flange portions are made of paper, the spool for fishing line can be abandoned as garbage.

[0010] In the spool, at least one of the pair of flange portions is provided with a boss fitted into a central portion thereof, and the core portion is connected to the boss. Thereby, the core portion and the flange portions can be reliably connected.

[0011] In the spool, the core portion comprises: a connecting pipe for connecting central portions of the respective flange portions; and a fishing line winding pipe placed between the flange portions when the connecting pipe is accommodated in the fishing line winding pipe. With such a structure, the flange portions can be reliably fixed by means of the connecting pipe. Also, the fishing line can be wound around the fishing line winding pipe.

[0012] In the spool, the core portion comprises: a connecting pipe for connecting central portions of the respective flange portions; and a fishing line winding pipe placed between the flange portions when the connecting pipe is accommodated in the fishing line winding pipe, wherein the connecting pipe is fitted to the boss. Thereby, the connecting pipe and the flange portions can be reliably connected. Also, the fishing line can be wound around the spool.

[0013] In the spool, at least one of end portions of the fishing line winding pipe is fitted into a peripheral groove provided in at least one of the flange portions. With such a structure, there is no clearance between the flange portion and the fishing line winding pipe, into which the fishing line might be put.

[0014] In the spool, the boss may have a polygon-shaped penetrating hole formed in an axial direction thereof. With such a structure, the spool for fishing line is positioned so as not to rotate with respect to the support shaft when the spool for fishing line is supported by the support shaft.

[0015] In the spool, at least one of the pair of flange portions has a slit for engaging fishing line. With such a structure, the end portion of the wound fishing line can be engaged with the slit. Thereby, the fishing line is prevented from coming loose.

[0016] These objects as well as other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a spool according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 2 is a view showing a part of the steps of manufacturing a spool according to the first embodiment of the present invention and showing cardboard used for manufacturing parts;

[0019]FIGS. 3A, 3B are views showing a part of the steps of manufacturing the spool according to the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a core portion piece and FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing a state in which the core portion piece is rolled up;

[0020]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the steps of manufacturing the spool according to the first embodiment of the present invention and showing a step of bonding flange portions to the core portion;

[0021]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a spool according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a spool according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 7 is a front view showing one of flange portions according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I - I of FIG. 7;

[0025]FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of the other flange portion according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0026]FIG. 10 is a front view showing the other flange portion according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and

[0027]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0028] Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the Figures.

First Embodiment

[0029]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a fishing line spool 10 (hereinafter referred to as a “spool”) according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Referring now to FIG. 1, the spool 10 is entirely made of paper. The material of the paper is not limited. For example, the spool 10 may adopt a various types of papers such as quality paper, craft paper, coating paper, glassine paper. Moreover, the spool 10 may adopt cardboard, corrugated cardboard, recycle paper, and the like.

[0031] The spool 10 comprises a core portion 11 and a pair of flange portions 12, 13.

[0032] The core portion 11 is short-cylinder shaped. A width d of the core portion 11 can be changed as necessary according to the thickness and length of the wound fishing line.

[0033] The pair of flange portions 12, 13 are flat-plate shaped members. Each of the flange portions 12, 13 has a hole 14 at a central portion thereof (in FIG. 1, the hole of the flange portion 12 is shown). Through the hole 14, a member (retaining member) for retaining the spool 10 is inserted. It should be noted that the hole 14 can be dispensed with. A slit 16 is formed in the flange portion 12 such that it extends from an outer periphery thereof to an inner (central) portion thereof. Likewise, a slit 17 is formed in the flange portion 13.

[0034] The spool 10 is manufactured in the steps shown in FIGS. 2 through 4.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 2, first of all, a core portion piece 19 forming the core portion 11 and flange portion pieces 20, 21 forming the flange portions 12, 13 are created. As a material, a flat cardboard 18 is prepared and cut. The cardboard 18 is perforated and the core portion piece 19 and the flange portion pieces 20, 21 are cut out. Alternatively, these pieces may be cut out without perforating the cardboard 18. In this embodiment, the slits 16, 17 are respectively formed in the flange portion pieces 20, 21. Perforations 26, 27 forming circles, respectively corresponding to the holes 14 (see FIG. 1) are formed in the flange portion pieces 20, 21. Instead of forming these perforations 26, 27 in advance, the holes 14 may be formed when the spool 10 is assembled.

[0036] Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3A, the cut-out core portion piece 19 is rolled up to form a cylindrical portion as shown in FIG. 3B. At this time, bond or the like is applied on end portions 22, 23 of the core portion piece 19 for fixing them to each other. Alternatively, portions may be provided at opposite end portions of the core portion piece 19 and these portions may be bonded. Thus, the core portion 11 as a part of the spool 10 is created.

[0037] Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the cut-out flange portion pieces 20, 21, i.e., the flange portions 12, 13 are bonded to the opposite end portions of the core portion 11. At this time, bond or the like is applied on end portions 24, 25 of the core portion 11 to bond the end portions 24, 25 and the flange portion pieces 20, 21. Thereby, the core portion 11 is fixed to the flange portions 12, 13. Thus, the spool 10 of FIG. 1 is completed.

[0038] To bond the core portion 11 and the flange portion pieces 20, 21, flanges may be further provided at the end portions 24, 25 of the core portion 11 and these flanges may be bonded to the flange portion pieces 20, 21.

[0039] According to the spool 10 of the present invention, the fishing line (not shown) is continuously wound around the core portion 11, and the flange portions 12, 13 prevents the wound fishing line from being inadvertently loosened. Since the core portion 11 and the flange portions 12, 13 are made of paper (cardboard 18), the spool 10 may be abandoned as garbage, after the fishing line is spent.

[0040] In particular, in this embodiment, since the slits 16, 17 are respectively formed in the flange portions 12, 13, end portions of the fishing line are fixed in the slits 16, 17 to be engaged with the spool 10.

[0041] Since the spool 10 is created by cutting out the core portion piece 19 and the flange portion pieces 20, 21 from the cardboard 18 and fixing them to each other by means of bond or the like, it can be easily created. Specifically, a metal mold for molding is necessary to manufacture the spool in the conventional case, whereas such device is unnecessary in this embodiment.

[0042] The cardboard 18 may be mass-produced as a board from which the core portion piece 19 and the flange portion pieces 20, 21 are created. In this case, perforations of the core portion piece 19 and the flange portion pieces 20,21 are formed together. Thereby, the spool 10 may be mass-produced at a low cost.

Second Embodiment

[0043] A second embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

[0044]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a spool 30 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the spool 30.

[0045] With reference to these Figures, the spool 30 is entirely made of paper. The material of the paper is not limited and various types of materials discussed in the first embodiment may be used.

[0046] The spool 30 comprises a core portion 31 and a pair of flange portions 32, 33.

[0047] The core portion 30 is entirely short-cylinder shaped. As shown in FIG. 6, the core portion 31 comprises a connecting pipe 34 having a small diameter and a fishing line winding pipe (pipe for winding fishing line) 35 having a large diameter. The connecting pipe 34 is placed in the pipe 35. The connecting pipe 34 and the pipe 35 are sandwiched between the flange portions 32, 33. A width d of the core portion 31 (a width d of the connecting pipe 34 and the pipe 35) can be changed as necessary according to the thickness and length of the wound fishing line.

[0048] The flange portion 33 is flat-plate shaped member and provided with a boss 36. The flange portion 33 has a hole 37 formed at a central portion of the flange portion 33. The boss 36 is fitted into the hole 37. The connecting pipe 34 is fitted to the boss 36. The boss 36 has a square penetrating hole 38 in an axial direction thereof. A support shaft (retaining member) is inserted into the penetrating hole 38 for retaining the spool 30 when the fishing line is wound around the spool 30.

[0049]FIG. 7 is a front view showing the flange portion 33. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I - I of FIG. 7.

[0050] With reference to FIGS. 7, 8, a circular peripheral groove 45 is formed in an inner face (face opposite to the flange portion 32) of the flange portion 33. The peripheral groove 45 conforms in shape to an end face 46 (see FIG. 6) of the pipe 35. Therefore, one end portion of the pipe 35 is fitted into the peripheral groove 45.

[0051]FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of the flange portion 32. With reference to FIGS. 6, 9, the flange portion 32 is formed integrally with the pipe 35. Alternatively, the flange portion 32 and the pipe 35 may be separate portions and may be bonded.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 9, the flange portion 32 is provided with a boss 41 having the same structure as the boss 36. The boss 41 is fitted into a hole 42 formed at a central portion of the flange portion 32. An inner diameter of the hole 42 is equal to an inner diameter of the hole 37 formed in the flange portion 33. The boss 41 has a square penetrating hole 43 formed in an axial direction thereof. The penetrating hole 43 has a shape similar to the shape of the penetrating hole 38 provided in the boss 36. When the support shaft is inserted through the spool 30, it is fitted into the penetrating holes 38, 43 and supported by the bosses 36, 41.

[0053]FIG. 10 is a front view of the flange portion 32. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II - II of FIG. 10.

[0054] With reference to FIGS. 9 through 11, the flange portion 32 is formed integrally with the pipe 35 as described above. The flange portion 32 and the bosses 36, 41 are formed by making paper into powders and pressurizing them to be molded. The connecting pipe 34 may adopt a commercially available tubular member made of paper. In this case, the piece of the pipe 34 is cut out according to the dimension d.

[0055] When the flange portion 32 and the pipe 35 are independently formed, a circular peripheral groove is formed in an inner face 49 (face opposite of the flange portion 33) of the flange portion 32. In this case, the peripheral groove conforms in shape to the end face of the pipe 35 to allow the end face to be fitted into the peripheral groove.

[0056] How the spool 30 of this embodiment is assembled will be explained below.

[0057] First, the bosses 36, 41 are respectively fitted into the holes 37, 42 of the flange portions 32, 33. At this time, the bosses 36, 41 can be reliably secured to the flange portions 32, 33 by means of bond. Subsequently, the end portion 48 of the connecting pipe 34 is fitted to the boss 36. Also at this time, the end portion 48 of the connecting pipe 34 can be reliably secured by means of bond. Then, the flange portion 32 integral with the pipe 35 is fitted to the flange portion 33. More specifically, the pipe 35 is fitted to outside of the connecting pipe 34 and then the end portion of the pipe 35 is fitted into the peripheral groove 45. In this case, bond or the like may be applied on the peripheral groove 45 in advance. Following the above procedure, the spool 30 is assembled.

[0058] According to the spool 30 of this embodiment, the fishing line is continuously wound around the core portion 31. Since the flange portions 32, 33 are provided, the wound fishing line is prevented from coming loose. Besides, since the core portion 31, the flange portions 32, 33, and the bosses 36, 41 are made of paper, it is possible to abandon the spool 30 as garbage.

[0059] In this embodiment, since the flange portions 32, 33 respectively are provided with the bosses 36, 41 and the core portion 31 is connected to the flange portions 33, 32 by means of the bosses 36, 41, the core portion 31 and the flange portions 32, 33 are reliably connected.

[0060] It should be noted that one of the bosses 36, 41 may be used, that is, one of them can be dispensed with. For instance, the boss 41 can be dispensed with. In this case, the hole 42 provided at the center of the flange portion 32 may be replaced by a hole formed in the flange portion 32 and having the shape similar to the shape of the penetrating hole 43. In this case, a peripheral groove into which the connecting pipe 34 is fitted can be formed at the flange portion 32. Thereby, without the boss 41, the connecting pipe 34 can be reliably fixed to the flange portion 32.

[0061] In this embodiment, since the core portion 31 is provided with the connecting pipe 34, the flange portions 32, 33 can be fixed by means of the connecting pipe 34. Also, since the core portion 31 is provided with the pipe 35, the fishing line is wound around the pipe 35. In other words, connection of the flange portions 32, 33 and winding of the fishing line are performed by using different members.

[0062] In this embodiment, the end portion of the pipe 35 is fitted into the peripheral groove 45 provided at the flange portion 33. For this reason, there is no clearance between the flange portion 33 and the pipe 35, into which the fishing line might be put.

[0063] When the pipe 35 and the flange portion 32 are independently formed, the flange portion 32 may be provided with a peripheral grove similar to the peripheral groove 45 provided at the flange portion 33, and the end portion of the pipe 35 can be fitted into the peripheral groove. For this reason, there is no clearance between the pipe 35 and the flange portion 32, into which the fishing line might be put.

[0064] Since the bosses 36, 41 are respectively provided with the square penetrating holes 38, 43, the spool 30 is positioned not to rotate with respect to the support shaft when the spool 30 is supported by the support shaft. The shape of the penetrating holes 38, 43 is not limited to square, it may be polygon. Also, the shape of these penetrating holes may be circle, in which case, a key groove is provided to position the spool 30 with respect to the support shaft.

[0065] Moreover, in this embodiment, a slit 50 (see FIG. 5) can be formed in each of the flange portions 32, 33 like the first embodiment.

[0066] Numerous modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, the description is to be construed as illustrative only, and is provided for the purpose of teaching those killed in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. The details of the structure and/or function may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention and all modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims are reserved. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A spool for fishing line comprising: a short-cylinder shaped core portion; and a pair of flange portions provided at opposite end portions of the core portion, wherein the core portion and the flange portions are made of paper.
 2. The spool for fishing line according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the pair of flange portions is provided with a boss fitted into a central portion thereof, and the core portion is connected to the boss.
 3. The spool for fishing line according to claim 1 , wherein the core portion comprises: a connecting pipe for connecting central portions of the respective flange portions; and a fishing line winding pipe placed between the flange portions when the connecting pipe is accommodated in the fishing line winding pipe.
 4. The spool for fishing line according to claim 2 , wherein the core portion comprises: a connecting pipe for connecting central portions of the respective flange portions; and a fishing line winding pipe placed between the flange portions when the connecting pipe is accommodated in the fishing line winding pipe, wherein the connecting pipe is fitted to the boss.
 5. The spool for fishing line according to claim 3 , wherein at least one of end portions of the fishing line winding pipe is fitted into a peripheral groove provided in at least one of the flange portions.
 6. The spool for fishing line according to claim 2 , wherein the boss has a polygon-shaped penetrating hole formed in an axial direction thereof.
 7. The spool for fishing line according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the pair of flange portions has a slit for engaging fishing line. 